Days 16, 17, 18 & 19

Day 16 – What do you miss most about your childhood?
Hmmm....Something simple.  I miss my parents deciding what we would eat every night.  I love to cook, but hate deciding what we are going to make.  Also, I miss have someone else to pay the bills.  :)


Day 17 – Something you crave a lot.
Oh my goodness, this list could go on and on and on, but I will spare you and just list a few.  O'Henry bars, Diet 7-Up (there's a shocker), Mexican food and hugs from my boys.  :)  Love those boys, all three of them!

Day 18 – What is something you wish you could change about yourself?


Without a doubt, I obsess and worry WAY TOO MUCH.  My husband tells me I worry about things that haven't even happened and probably won't happen.

Day 19 – What is something you hope never changes about you.
I hope I never change the fact that I love a clean and clutter free house.

Conversation with Goober, the two year old wonder

I was driving in a nearby town today after an eye appointment with Monkey and Goober was being super chatty in the back seat.  There is a particular business in this town and Goober and his daddy frequent.  It is an instrument repair place.  Go figure, right?  So anyway, here is the conversation that unfolded after driving by.

Goober:  Mommy, it's Ten's four!  (Ken's store)!!
Mommy:  That's right!
Goober:  Does Ten live there?
Mommy:  No, he just works there.
Goober:  No, he lives there.  With the tubas.  Do clarinets live there?
Mommy:  Yes.
Goober:  Let's see Ten.
Mommy:  (obviously lying at this point)  No Goober, Ten is eating lunch.
Goober:  Who he eat lunch with?
Mommy:  His wife.
Goober:  What they eat?
Mommy:  I don't know.
Goober:  Mommy!!!  What they eat?
Mommy:  Hamburgers.
Goober:  Is there ketchup?
Mommy:  Yes.
Goober:  Is there pickles?
Mommy:  Yes.
Goober:  What color Ten's house?
Mommy:  He lives at his store.
Goober:  Silly mommy, Ten lives in house.
Mommy:  Oh, sorry.
Goober:  What color Ten's house?
Mommy:  I don't know, maybe pink.
Goober:  No, it's green.
Mommy:  Goober, go to sleep.
Goober:  No, I talk more.
Mommy:  Awesome.

Days 12, 13, 14 & 15

Day 12 – A photograph of the town you grew up in. What did you love/hate about it?

I don't really have any pictures of the town I grew up in other than pictures I have taken of storms.  I have blogged about my hometown here.  There are so many things I love about it.  I would have to say (insert deep breath here for fear of being run out of said town) that I dislike the OBSESSION with sports here.  I admit, our hometown is great at most sports, but sometimes I feel like other things might be overshadowed by sports.  For example, our high school speech team took a whole slew of kids to state this week but alas, no gigantic celebration or pep rally for them.  The band (ok, I am biased on this one) is amazing.  They win competitions and consistently get superior ratings at performances, but again, no pep rallies or celebrations.  The FCCLA (formally FHA) and FFA do so many amazing things but don't get the recognition I feel they deserve.  The Student Council, Quiz Bowl and so many other groups do so much yet they kind of live in the shadows.  OK, now I better go start packing my house up to move because I am sure this one paragraph hit a sour note.  Oops.  Oh well.


Day 13 – Where are you spiritually? In a valley or on a mountain?
Hmmm...  I am probably working on climbing up the mountain from the valley.  :)  I take that back.  God is carrying me up the mountain.  I am too lazy to climb it. 


Day 14 – If you had unlimited resources, what would your life look like? (Have fun with this one!)

Honestly, pretty much the same as it is right now.  I am so happy and content with where my family is right now.  The boys have everything they need.  I suppose maybe a bigger state of the art kitchen would be nice.  I also would love to have hubby home more, so I guess he could (gasp) quit the National Guard.  Yep, I said it again.  Kind of a theme in my life.  :(

Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without. Why?

I rarely leave the house with these two little guys.  Why?  Well, I'm a mommy.  I guess that's what I have to do.

I have also learned to never leave the house without a change of clothes for said little guys.  You can read about that life lesson here.  I also never leave the house without my phone.  Although I rarely talk on the phone in the car and NEVER text in the car, I still like having it with me.  I also rarely leave the house without sunglasses, even when it is cloudy.  I have has surgery on both of my eyes, (the worst experience of my life) which has left them both very sensitive to the sun, so this is a must unless I want to drive with my eyes closed, which does not work well at all and is probably just as dangerous as texting and driving.

Day 11 – The greatest vacation or trip you've ever had.

Hmmm....Although I loved traveling around Europe, I am going to have to say Hawaii.  Hubby had to go there with the National Guard a couple of summers ago, so my older sister and I went out there and vacationed for part of the time he was there.  It was awesome.  My parents kept Goober and it was a MUCH needed break for me!

Days 8, 9 & 10

Day 8 – The best advice you've ever received.
Oh my goodness, I really had to think on this one.   I would say it is from Dave Ramsey, big surprise, huh?  "You should live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else."


Day 9 – A photo of your last significant purchase. Did it satisfy a need or a want?
I don't shop often and when I do, it is for groceries and diapers.  :)  Although it won't be bought for a few more weeks, I would say new shingles for our house.  What a super exciting way to spend $7000.00, right?  Ugh.  Not fun at all, but it will look nice when it is done, right?  Here is Goober putting his input in on what color we should go with.  He actually said, "Mommy, use all the colors."  I bet that would look fantastic!  :)



Day 10 – What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?
I am not really one to pamper.  I get my hair cut twice a year, rarely wear make-up and have never had a pedicure or manicure.  I would say letting hubby take the kids so I can shower uninterrupted.   I also had a massage as a gift awhile back.  I think I would love to do that again someday.

Need to simplify!

I have been thinking about this for almost six months now, but I really need to simplify my life.  Our family has way too much stuff.  Our house is busting at the seems with clothes, toys and every other thing!  I feel like I am wasting way too much time looking for things and then sometimes (I hate to admit this) I have to buy something because I can't find it!  So I am looking for your best suggestions and advice on simplifying your life!!  Does anyone have any creative ideas on what to do with all of the treasures I decide to get rid of?

This morning the massive spring cleaning began.  I spent two hours on the entryway closet.  That is pathetic.  How many pairs of shoes, coats, bags and hats does a family of four really need?

Day 7

Day 7 – Tell us about your wedding or dream wedding.

My wedding was a dream, well, not the perfect dream!  :)  It seemed as though a lot of things went wrong that day, but we were able to laugh about them.  First of all, we woke up to rain, rain and more rain.  I hydroplaned on the way to town to get my hair done, luckily, I was able to keep the car on the road with no casualties.  We got to the salon and guess what?  They forgot to book the wedding.  Geez.  Somehow, everyone got their hair done.  My little sister tends to not be able to show her disgust with people.  She spent the morning giving the hair dressers that did show up the stink eye.

After finally getting our hair done.  We went to Target to get hair bonnets because of the weather.  We got yelled at for having a camera in the store.

 

My sassy southern belle friend Bridget was not impressed with getting lectured by a 16 year old.

I had this grand vision of my wedding cake looking like three drums stacked on top of each other.  I had seen a picture similar to this one on the Internet.

http://www.wedding-and-fashion.info/tag/wedding+cakes

 The lady who made my cake apparently did not know how to get the wood grain effect or make silver icing.  Instead, she wrapped my cake in tin foil and called it good.  My scanner is broken, otherwise I would upload a photo.  It was the ugliest cake ever.  It looked like a spaceship.  Hubby tried to not allow me to see the cake because he thought I would freak out.  He told me the cake hadn't arrived yet while we were taking pictures.  Soon after, my nephew came into the church with frosting all over his hands and said, "Aunt Kelli, that cake is really yummy!"  Yep, he dug right in.  I went to survey the damage and everyone held their breath because they were worried about my reaction to the ugly cake.  I laughed hysterically.  It was hideous.

Also, did I mention that my flowers were lillys and the florist forgot to clip the little stem things off and my dress turned yellow?  Still, I laughed.

About three minutes before the ceremony, our best man and one of our groomsmen were MIA.  They were at my house fixing a picture slide show that we were going to play at the reception that wasn't working.  They made it just in time!  :)

The ceremony went very well.  Hubby wrote a message to me on his hand that made me laugh out loud.  I may have snorted, who knows.

Did I mention my brother in law is a very strange man?

My poor little orphan flower girl.

The reception went really well too.  My brother in law (pictured above) is a Chaplain's Assistant in the National Guard and has a very strong faith so we asked him to say a prayer before we ate.  I was picturing something sentimental and elegant.  Instead, he lead everyone in a Superman prayer.  He sang a prayer to the tune of Superman and everyone was to put their hands in the air as if to fly like Superman.  It was pretty unexpected and got a lot of laughs.

The dance was great.  We had a blast!  ....until about an hour before the end when a thunderstorm rolled through and we lost electricity.  Everyone was scrambling in the dark.  Oh well, I guess it was time for the party to end.

Oh yes, I can't forget about the neighbors.  When hubby and I got home for our first night as husband and wife, we got out of the car (in our wedding clothes) and went into the house.  About 45 minutes later, our drunk neighbor was banging on our back door and wanted to know if we wanted to "hang" with him.  Seriously?  Neither of us drink, so probably not you crazy person.

Then, the next day, my camera with all of the pictures (with the exception of the photographer's) went missing.  We looked EVERYWHERE.  My veil was also missing.  Weird.  Well, when we were getting out of the car, I apparently dropped it in a mud puddle.  The camera and veil were ruined, but I was able to save the memory card.

All in all, the day was kind of a disaster, but the whole point is, we were married and we still are, so who cares, right?

Actually this week, we will celebrate our anniversary!

Bed time stories in the tent!

I just wanted one decent picture!

Finally, a half way decent one!  Goober looked slightly drugged out, but at least they are both smiling.

My argument as a SAHM

Be warned, this blog is written to defend myself (even though I shouldn't feel the need to defend myself) and in turn may offend others.  This is not my intention, I just feel like I want to get my side of this situation out there.

As one of very very few SAHMs in our small town and even in our area, I quite often hear, "It must be nice to be a stay at home mom."  While occasionally this comment is made as a genuine remark, more times than not it is someone being sarcastic and smart ass-like.  Anyway, my response is always an awkward laugh.  I really want to say, "You can do it too!"  I understand there are some situations where it can't work, but I really believe that most people could make it work if they really wanted it to.  I do also understand that there are a lot of moms that don't want to stay at home and that is perfectly fine also! 

I am fortunate enough to stay at home because my husband and I have created a lifestyle in which it works for us.  We do not have an abundance of money lying around or anything, but our kids always have clothes to wear, toys to play with and food to eat.  My husband is a teacher and no, he does not make hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, but we take the salary he does make and we make it work.  We budget every month.  As Dave Ramsey would say, every dollar we spend has a name to it.  I drive a 2007 van that we own with no payments.  My husband's car and pick up also do not have payments.  We do not have credit cards or student loans.  Sure, I would love to have nicer clothes and designer shoes, but Target and Payless clothes and shoes keep me just as warm!  We own a modest home.  Sure, if I was working, we could afford to build a beautiful new house, but the one we have has more than enough room for us.  Even though we are on a budget, we still are able to attend concerts and movies.  We go out to eat occasionally. 

Anyway, I don't really know for sure what I am getting at, but I just know it really annoys me when people think we are super rich or something and that is how I stay at home.  We just don't live beyond our means.  We don't spend money that we don't have.  I am not knocking anyone's lifestyle or ridiculing anyone for how they live, I am just so tired of hearing, "Oh, you don't work?"

OK, venting done.  Thank you and have a nice day!  I guess I will just go and put my feet up and watch Oprah and eat bon-bons now because that is the other thing SAHMs do, right?  :)

Days 3, 4, 5 & 6

Day 3 – A photo of something you ate today. Was is it worth the calories?

It was so worth the calories and I would do it all over again.

Day 4 – Something or someone you can't live without, because you’ve tried. 

God and church.  I had a pretty rough patch in my life a few years back and tried to turn my back on God.  Long story short, it didn't work.  He found me!  :)

Day 5 – Something you definitely could live without.

Oh my goodness.  I could go on and on about this one.  Let's see, here are a few:

• bills
• dirty diapers
• sinus headaches (I have one right now)

Day 6 – Tell us about your best friend when you were 16, and where you two stand today.

  

I have three.  

Shannon, who I have only seen once in the past year.  :(  I miss her.  She is hilarious and we had so much fun together in high school.

And Erin, who I have posted about in the past.  Erin and I sadly only communicate via facebook.  :(  I hate that I barely talk to my two best friends from high school.

The last one, well, that is a post for another time.  :)

Ugh!! Everything!!

So today was one of those days that everything I touched seemed to break or create more work for me.  First off, both of my kids nap in the afternoon.  They usually nap anywhere from two to three hours.  Usually, I just do a few odds and ends around the house and then try to relax for five minutes before starting supper and my evening chores.  Well, for the last week or so, I have been letting things slip a bit.  (I normally try to keep a very neat and orderly house.)  So yesterday, I had my list of a million thing I wanted to accomplish.  Goober threw the tantrum to end all tantrums before his nap.  He almost always takes a nap with no objections, but yesterday, he freaked out, which lead to Monkey freaking out, which lead to mommy freaking out.  I finally got both of them to sleep and headed to the garage to get the drill to hang new curtains in the family room.  Both batteries were dead.  Awesome.  Way to go Mrs. Bob Vila, right?  So while I charged one of the batteries, I hung some cupboard doors in the family room that just got new glass in them.  I got three of them hung and got to the last one and a screw flew out.  With mobile kiddoes in the house, I had to find it.  It took 15 minutes.  It was all the way across the room.  I don't understand that.  Anyway, the last door didn't fit.  WTH?  Seriously?  Like I said, the boys usually nap for two to three hours.  Not yesterday!  They were up after 20 minutes.  Oh my goodness.  So I get them out of bed and let them watch a movie.  Bad mommy, I know.  I went to work on the curtains.  I got the first window done (kind of, it isn't exactly installed correctly, but the stupid window is covered, what more do I need?).  :)  I got to the second window (this blasted room has way too many rooms in it).  I broke the drill bit off in the wall.  Oops.  I calmly packed everything into a corner and quit.  Hopefully hubby will help me this weekend. He is the poster child for patience.  He can handle this.  After this fiasco, I headed into the kitchen to make snacks for my Bible Study last night.  Epic fail.  I ended up going to the grocery store and getting something.  Supper did turn out OK, but then again hubby made most of it.  Then it was time for Bible Study.  I was a slacker and did not do my homework before I went.  Needless to say, it didn't go very well.  All of the women in there are moms so we ended up talking about poop.  Just like my day, poopy.

Day 1 & Day 2

Day 1 – A picture of you and something you like about like about yourself

I was incredibly prego in this picture.  I was so proud of myself for climbing ever last one of those stairs at Red Rocks in Colorado.  Go me!!

Day 2 – Something you really don't like about yourself.   

I hate my nose.  It is huge and ugly.  I need not include a picture of this.

I am addicted to these!

Elmo has run his course, so off to bed they went!!  :)

I am totally addicted to these blog challenges!!  I love them and I think they are super fun!

So, I am doing the Spring Forward Challenge and since last time I did this, I wasn't very efficient, I might combine some days.  I guess some days I feel like blogging and others, not so much!

Day 1 – A picture of you and something you like about like about yourself
Day 2 – Something you really don't like about yourself.
Day 3 – A photo of something you ate today. Was is it worth the calories?
Day 4 – Something or someone you can't live without, because you’ve tried.
Day 5 – Something you definitely could live without.
Day 6 – Tell us about your best friend when you were 16, and where you two stand today.
Day 7 – Tell us about your wedding or dream wedding.
Day 8 – The best advice you've ever received.
Day 9 – A photo of your last significant purchase. Did it satisfy a need or a want?
Day 10 – What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?
Day 11 – The greatest vacation or trip you've ever had.
Day 12 – A photograph of the town you grew up in. What did you love/hate about it?
Day 13 – Where are you spiritually? In a valley or on a mountain?
Day 14 – If you had unlimited resources, what would your life look like? (Have fun with this one!)
Day 15 – Something you don’t leave the house without. Why?
Day 16 – What do you miss most about your childhood?
Day 17 – Something you crave a lot.
Day 18 – What is something you wish you could change about yourself?
Day 19 – What is something you hope never changes about you.
Day 20 – The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 21 – A photo of something that consistently makes you happy.
Day 22 – A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day 23 – Tell us something you think no one really knows about you.
Day 24 – A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Day 25 – Someone who impacts your life regularly.
Day 26 – How have you changed in the past two years?
Day 27 – What is something you need to forgive yourself for?
Day 28 – What is something you need to stop blaming yourself for?
Day 29 – Something you could never get tired of doing.
Day 30 – A photo of you today, and 3 good things that have happened during this blog challenge.

This post brought to you by Elmo

Yes, this post is sponsored by Elmo, the lovable little red monster who is attentively entertaining my lovely and wonderful little boys right now so I can have a much needed few minutes to myself.  I heart Elmo.

Unfortunately for you, my faithful readers, this post is about my random thoughts, again.

1.  Did I mention I heart Elmo?  He is teaching my kids how to put their coats on by themselves.  Ahh, that will be a glorious day.

2.  I suck at being a mom sometimes.  For the past few weeks, Goober and I have battled every time it is time to put his shoes on.  I thought he was being naughty.  It turns out his shoes were an entire size too small.  Oops.  Yea, I suck.

3.  Teething is the devil.  I do not get why the teeth have to come up, go down, come up, go down, etc, etc, etc.  Yes, teething is the devil.

4.  Because of random thought number three, an emergency trip for Tylenol will be in my near future.

5.  I hate dust.

6.  I really hate dirty windows.

7.  Is is weird that I obsess that my kitchen be clean at all times, yet my family room ALWAYS look like the giraffe from Toys'r Us threw up all over.

8.  Speaking of throw up, someone threw up in Kindermusik last week.  It was disgusting.  I am glad it wasn't my kid.

9.  Last week, I went to Ash Wednesday services during nap time.  What the h was I thinking?  

10.  Do other kids who seemingly have every toy known to man insist on playing with wooden spoons, ice cream buckets and the remote?

11.  I wonder why no one has turned the Shamwow into a diaper?  Hmmm.  I think I will work on that.

12.  I love to cook, but hate deciding what to cook.

13.  Is it weird that while watching Sister Wives the other night, I actually thought that those wives have a nice little set up?

Prayers needed please!

This is my adorable little nephew.  Him and his mom (who is pregnant) were in a bad accident Monday night.  He has finally waken up from being unconscious, but could still use some prayers.  Thanks!

I need a date :-(

I am starting this post off with a picture of my very handsome and wonderful husband.

 

This morning I was sitting in the recliner while Monkey used my face as his own personal punching bag and scratching surface and Goober used my legs like they were a horse.  I had blueberry/pear baby puree in my hair (Monkey loves to blow raspberries when he eats) and I am more than certain there was snot on my clothes somewhere.  Anyway, we were singing some completely ridiculous song about an old man name "Old Joe Clark" and it occurred to me how desperately I miss dating my husband.  Our relationship started out like most others where there was a few weeks of awkwardness, you know, are you going to call me or am I going to call you and should I ask him if he wants to hang out this weekend or should I give him his space.  Anyway, I totally miss dating him.  I miss spending time getting ready for a date and having him pick me up and going out to eat or to a movie or concert.  I miss talking about our days or dreaming about our future and learning new things about each other. Now the only time we get out of the house alone is if we pawn the kids off on grandma and grandpa and we go get groceries.  The only thing we talk about now is the boys.  Don't get me wrong, I love the boys and I love being married to him, but sometimes I miss the way it used to be. 

Sigh.  Maybe he will ask me out on a date soon.  Maybe we could make a rule that we can't talk about the boys.  Any other mommies or even married people without kiddos around miss dating their husband or is it just me?

ABC's of Me!

A-Age: 27

B-Bed size: Queen

C-Chore you hate: Scrubbing floors.  I love vacuuming, but hate scrubbing.

D-Dogs: Goober has some stuffed animal dogs, so those count?

E-Essential start to your day:  I must admit, I have to have my facebook fix in the morning.  I also absolutely have to make my bed.

F-Favorite Color: Blue and brown, not separately, but together.

G-Gold or Silver:  Silver

H-Height: 5'9 or 5'10, not really sure, I may be shrinking as I get older.

I-Instruments you play:  Hubby plays every instrument known to man.  I just listen!

J-Job title:  Full time mommy and wife.

K-Kids: Goober is 2 and Monkey is 7 months

L-Live: The great state of Nebraska.  I love it here (most of the time).

M-My mom's name: Mary Beth  (hah mom, I included the Beth part.)

N-Nickname:   hmm....mommy?

O-Overnight hospital stay: When I had my appendix out and when the boys were born.  I stayed one night to be monitored when I was pregnant with Goober.  I think I was in the hospital when I was little for pneumonia.

P-Pet Peeve:  Oh my goodness, how many hours to have?  I tend to be very easily annoyed.  I guess the ones that come to mind would be wearing shoes in the house, people to under dress their kids in the winter, messy kitchens, cigarette smoke, people who talk on their phone while in the check out line at a store or ordering their food in a restaurant and being late.  Like I said, I am very easily annoyed.

Q-Quote from a movie:  "Here, hit this, just whack her!"  Pretty much anything from Steel Magnolias.  That movie is classic.  I also like, "He is a boil on the butt of humanity," from that movie.

R-Right/Lefty: righty.

S-Sibling: Two sisters, two sister-in-laws and three brother-in laws.

T-Time you wake up: Whenever the boys tell me to!  :-)

U-Underwear: Umm, yes?  Not really willing to talk about this one.

V-Veggies you dislike: Peas, ick.



W-What makes you run late: Again, my kids.  I hate being late.  It drives me completely insane.  I start to sweat and freak out if we are running late.

X-Xrays you've had: Broken arm, chest X-rays after a car accident, MRI when I was pregnant with Goober because of a possible brain problem (very scary day).

Y-Yummy food you make:  Not sure, ask my hubby!

Z-Zoo animal: Zebras and monkeys.

Goober and Daddy at the zoo last summer.